The Best Internet Providers in Sydney

Need to know the best internet service providers in Sydney? Finding the right broadband provider can take time, but it’s worth knowing what’s out there before you make the switch. Find all the relevant data regarding NBN speed, network coverage, and other common concerns.

The best internet provider in Sydney varies from person to person. Some people need internet plans with high-speed internet and impressive download speeds for online games and streaming services. Others might only need limited internet plans or mobile plans that combine phone and internet bills.

There are numerous internet service providers, but which is the best internet provider in Sydney? This article covers the details and benefits of different broadband providers, including their speed tiers. Keep reading to learn about reliable internet service providers available in Sydney.

What Internet is Best for Speed and Reliability in Sydney?

Although the National Broadband Network (NBN) increased the reach and speed of Aussie broadband networks, a single internet service provider still dominates the market. The biggest issue for internet service providers in Sydney is offering competitive internet plans to manage the demand of typical evening speeds in high-demand areas.

Telstra offers some of the highest speeds for WiFi in Sydney. As well as providing internet plans with competitive download speeds, Telstra provides mobile broadband plans that combine mobile phone bills with the customer’s internet bill. Telstra is among the best internet service providers for maintaining high typical evening speed even during peak times.

Telstra offers NBN plans and ADSL options with various NBN connection types, including fixed wireless broadband like fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC). The Telstra Basic internet plan offers a typical evening speed of 25Mbps for downloads, while the Premium plan provides higher speeds of 100Mbps. Finally, the Ultimate plan offers typical evening speeds of 250Mbps.

What is the Best Broadband for Streaming and Gaming in Australia?

Internet service providers operating mobile broadband and internet plans vary from one provider to the next. The information about internet plans below will help you decide where to go if you’re looking for the best internet service providers for gaming and streaming.

1. Optus Broadband

Optus is a broadband provider with various internet and NBN plans. Their NBN plans are highly customisable, letting NBN users choose a plan speed. Internet services with this level of customisation are great for online gaming. Choosing your own speed makes it easier to get the fast internet connection you need for effortless gaming with no lag.

The newest WiFi 6 modem provides speeds up to 150% faster for internet plans than their previous modem. Optus also offers the Game Path™ performance enhancer that reduces lag by an average of 30% and jitter by 70%. Perfect for playing with friends on international servers, the Game Path™ improves gaming in Sydney for games like League of Legends and Apex Legends.

Optus is one of the biggest internet providers in Australia, and their NBN plans are all available with the next-gen Ultra WiFi modem. The new WiFi modem allows users to connect twice as many devices as previous models, totalling 128. It’s the ideal setup for big households to stream movies and play games online without lag and connectivity issues.

The Family Entertainer NBN plan is one of Optus’ bundle internet plans that offers Optus SubHub, Netflix, and Optus Sport as part of the contract. SubHub access gives users a 2-month free subscription to BINGE, a six-month free Amazon Prime Video, a 7-day free trial with Paramount+, and more. An NBN plan with Optus brings the most value for money for gamers and streamers.

2. Dodo Broadband

Dodo offers some of the cheapest NBN plans on the broadband provider market. Their basic plan provides unlimited data and no lock-in contracts at a discounted price for the first 6 months. Dodo is now owned by the Vocus group, offering fast, reliable speeds at low prices. Unlike many internet providers, they also provide ADSL connections to homes that still need them.

Each plan includes unlimited data with no lock-in contracts. Dodo is a great internet provider for streamers because of its Fetch TV offers. The network delivers its premium channels through the internet, making the most of the fast speed and reliable broadband connection.

The NBN25 plan supports online gaming with evening speeds strong enough for individuals living alone. Upgrading to the NBN50 option boosts the typical evening upload speed from 4Mbps to 17Mbps and provides a reliable connection for two or more people to play games and stream online. For full 4K video support, users can opt for the NBN100 plan that provides typical evening speeds of 95Mbps and a 17Mbps upload speed.

3. Aussie Broadband

Aussie Broadband is an internet provider offering NBN plans, mobile broadband, and unlimited data. Gamers and streamers can opt for the Standard Evening Speed for an average 25Mbps evening speed. This plan is perfect for small households working on a budget, supporting online gaming and moderate streaming.

The Superfast NBN250 plan is available only with a fibre to the premises (FTTP) connection and most HFC customers. Large families can simultaneously stream high-definition shows and movies and play games online without experiencing lag or connectivity issues. Aussie broadband also offers the Ultrafast speed tier, making it one of the only internet providers in Australia to provide 600Mbps in evening download speeds.

In 2021, CHOICE voted Aussie Broadband as Australia’s Best NPN Provider. The internet provider offers incredibly flexible bundles and plans starting at 12Mbps. Their Everyday NBN plan includes typical evening download speeds of 50Mbps, making it perfect for gaming, streaming, and working from home.

4. Superloop

The next internet provider to cover is Superloop. This broadband provider offers unlimited internet plans with the NBN and no upfront costs for WiFi routers. Like several internet providers, this internet provider offers a Lightspeed plan with typical evening download speeds of 600Mbps. However, Superloop offers very competitive pricing, frequently providing the same services at a cheaper monthly price.

Individuals who only have time to game online or stream on their days off might prefer the lower speed tiers available with Superloop. The Extra Value, Family, Power Home, and Superfast plans are all eligible for the My Speed Boost™ upgrade. Each tier receives five free Speed Upgrade Days per month. This is ideal for users who want to stream specific events like sports games or movie premieres.

Moreover, the My Speed Boost™ feature allows users to roll over their unused days to a maximum of 30 days. It’s also possible to purchase more upgrade days for a nominal daily fee. The increased speed lasts for 24 hours, making it perfect for a busy day of home working and an evening of unwinding by playing online with friends.

5. Telstra

Finally, Telstra is an internet provider that offers broadband internet that’s excellent for gamers and streamers. This broadband provider has the benefit of offering heaps of add-ons, at the disadvantage of being on the expensive end for Australian internet providers. Their Basic plan comes with 25Mbps download speed, and 4Mbps upload speed. Telstra also offers exclusive deals on BINGE, Apple TV+, Spotify Premium, and Kayo.

These offers make Telstra an attractive option for movie buffs who want to stream their favourite movies and TV shows. Telstra’s plans all include an unlimited data allowance and advanced cybersecurity features. Gamers looking for reliably fast speeds and connectivity should consider the Premium plan. Typical evening download speeds reach 100Mbps, while upload speeds reach 17Mbps.

Telstra recently changed its approach to internet services and followed other providers to offer no lock-in contracts. Unlike most providers, Telstra has initiation fees for its services. However, customers can avoid them by shopping online, where Telstra has no connection fees.

How to Improve Your Internet Speed

If you’re looking for ways to boost your internet speed, there are several steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of your home wireless broadband.

Test Your Internet Speed in Sydney

One of the most important steps in improving your internet speed is knowing your current speed. This helps you to know if you are getting the speed that your internet provider promised or to know if there are issues that aren’t getting you the right internet speed.

Find out your internet speed here:

Ensure Your Modem is Well-Placed

Several places in your house can affect the quality of your internet connection. For example, avoid placing your modem in the kitchen. Electronic appliances like microwaves and coffee machines can disrupt the radio signals modems need to function. Equally, metal items like fridges and cookers can cause disruptions, leaving you with slow and unstable WiFi.

WiFi modems emit your broadband in a circle. Placing the modem centrally to your home ensures the signal reaches all areas equally. Keep your modem off the floor to avoid having the signal absorbed by the ground. The ideal placement for your modem is in an open space toward the middle of your home, away from other electronics or containers of water like fish tanks. This setting gives it the best chance to emit a strong signal throughout the house.

Restart Your Modem

The phrase ‘switch it off and on again’ is a go-to fix for good reason. Rebooting your modem can improve your internet speed by removing its cache build-up. Each device you connect to your WiFi adds demand to your modem that can reduce its speed and connectivity. When you switch your modem off and on again, it can refresh its memory storage and improve the quality of your internet connection.

It’s also good for your internet security to reset your modem every now and then. It can install upgraded firmware and operating systems that make it more secure. Modems can also overheat, much like computers or other electronic devices. Restarting modems helps them cool and avoid overheating.

Choose a Plan with a Higher Speed

Perhaps the most obvious way to increase your broadband speed is to choose a different plan. If you’re really struggling to get by with your current broadband plan, you might be better off finding a broadband plan with a higher speed tier. Faster speeds come with higher prices, but the cheapest plans typically have little to offer in their speed tiers.

If your situation has changed and now you need higher speeds and more reliable connections, a new internet plan is likely the best solution. Changes like working from home, new housemates, and new technology like laptops and tablets strain your wireless broadband, especially if your original broadband plan was for limited use.

Upgrade Your Modem

If your modem is an older model, it might struggle to support the internet speeds you pay for on your current internet plan. Before you go paying more for faster internet services, consider upgrading your modem to boost speeds. If you improve your plan without getting a newer modem, your speeds could be throttled by the modem’s capabilities.

Check the speeds advertised on your current internet plan and compare them to how fast your internet connection actually runs. If there’s a big discrepancy between the two, you could need a newer modem that’s capable of supporting the speeds you pay for and helping you save money rather than splashing out for a faster internet plan.

Install a WiFi Signal Extension

Modems can only project the WiFi signal so far, and many people find that there are blind spots in their homes where the signal doesn’t reach. People with larger homes might benefit more from installing a WiFi signal extension to boost their internet speed. A WiFi extender boosts the range of your WiFi signal, making it easier to access from hard-to-reach places like an attic bedroom or the backyard.

Adding a WiFi booster or extender can increase your internet speed. It reduces network congestion and harnesses newer WiFi technology to ensure you get the best speed possible from your internet service.

Which Sydney Internet Service Provider is Right for Your Needs?

Figuring out which broadband provider is the one for your WiFi or fixed wireless can be challenging. There are two core questions to ask to decide how to choose the right one:

• What’s your priority?
• What’s your budget?

For online gamers who want an affordable rate, Optus offers competitive speeds and the Game Path™ feature to increase the experience, all for reasonable prices that individuals or couples can easily afford. The most cost-effective way to game online with friends as a single person living alone is to use the NBN provider, Superloop. Using their My Speed Boost™ upgrades makes it cheaper to game at high speeds a few times monthly.

If money isn’t an issue and the focus is to get fixed wireless or WiFi that brings tons of speed and reliability, the Power House NBN service provided by Aussie Broadband is the right choice. Telstra is more appealing to customers who want bonus offers for streaming services with their internet services. Dodo provides the perfect middle ground between the various options, bringing speed and affordability in equal measure. To learn more about WiFi suitable for streaming in Australia, visit our compare internet and TV bundles page.

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Best Internet Providers in Sydney FAQs

See our take on some of the common questions surrounding internet providers in Sydney.